Meet the site
Point Lonsdale Jetty is a short timber pier on the bay side of Point Lonsdale, tucked under the lighthouse at the very western edge of the Port Phillip entrance – close enough to The Rip that the pilot boats work from beside it. The Scuba Doctor listing gives a depth range of 3–12 m, describes 'an interesting dive under the jetty itself' in 'shallow but dynamic waters' over a rocky bottom with abundant marine life, and notes that the reef patches to the north and east are worth heading for when the water is slack.
The piles carry the usual Victorian pier community – sponges, ascidians, anemones, hydroids and mussels – and the small animals that live in it: seahorses and pipefish in the growth, nudibranchs, decorator crabs, octopus in the rubble and leatherjackets and wrasse between the piles. What is unusual is the water: this is oceanic, current-swept and normally clear, so the pile growth is thicker and more colourful than on the bay piers to the north, and the reef patches beyond the jetty at 6–12 m are proper Heads limestone with ledges, kelp and crayfish. South of the jetty the Point Lonsdale Kelp Forest and Shark Gutter continue around the point.
The listing is direct about the difficulty: slack water with no swell, short dives only, and best for experienced divers. The tide runs past the piles at several knots on both the flood and the ebb, and a diver caught on the flood will be carried into the bay past the lighthouse. It is not a training pier. For an experienced macro photographer who can time the slack it is a productive and rarely dived site with car-park access, and it is the launching point for the shore dives on the outer platform – Black Boy, Gange, George Roper, Glaneuse and Holyhead – which the listing lists as advanced-only wrecks nearby.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Point Lonsdale Jetty is recorded as Jetty/Pier in Port Phillip Heads. The listed access is shore. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Point Lonsdale Jetty suitable for my certification?
The record lists Open Water. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Point Lonsdale Jetty through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Seahorses, pipefish, nudibranchs, decorator crabs, octopus, leatherjackets, bluethroat wrasse, sponges, ascidians, anemones, southern rock lobster on the reef patches, cuttlefish
Location
Timber jetty beneath Point Lonsdale lighthouse on the bay side of the point, at the western entrance to Port Phillip; 38 m from the Point Lonsdale Light shore site.
Facilities nearby
Free car park and public toilets at the lighthouse; no showers; village shops 800 m; air fills Dive Victoria Group, Queenscliff
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
scubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
